The weather has a bigger impact on COVID spread than social distancing, study concludes
WASHINGTON A lot of the blame for COVID-19’s “second wave” has been pointed at people not following safety guidelines put out by health experts and government officials. A new report however, says don’t blame people, blame the weather. Researchers from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus find hot weather and wind have a bigger impact on virus transmission rates than social distancing during a pandemic.
Their study concludes that two outbreaks in one year is a natural phenomenon during a massive outbreak. Temperature, humidity, and wind can help predict when a second wave will peak, which the researchers call “inevitable.”
February 2, 2021
Jon Cohen
The popular Science and Society lecture series from the Lewes Public Library and Topical Seminars will return at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9.
The online discussion will focus on the science behind the global race to produce a vaccine against the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Veteran science journalist Jon Cohen will discuss how, in less than a year after scientists first identified SARS-CoV-2, a handful of highly effective vaccines were developed, exhaustively tested and approved for use. He will highlight the different approaches pursued around the world, the scientists involved in the pursuit, and the political and economic pressures surrounding the endeavor.
Canada s nuclear future brightens: Physics Today: Vol 74, No 1 scitation.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from scitation.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
01-26-2021
By
Earth.com staff writer
A new study from the American Institute of Physics (AIP) describes how air purifiers can actually worsen airborne virus transmission. The researchers found that air purifiers in elevators and other confined spaces facilitate the dispersal of saliva droplets, potentially increasing the spread of viruses.
Air purifiers are often used in small spaces that are not well-ventilated. These systems use ultraviolet radiation to kill viruses, but they also increase the movement of air as they purify it. This accelerated air circulation has not been considered in previous studies.
Recently, the AIP team demonstrated that saliva droplets can travel 18 feet in five seconds when an unmasked person coughs. The researchers used the same model to examine the effects of face masks and weather conditions.
AIP Publishing Names Penelope Lewis Chief Publishing Officer
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MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ AIP Publishing announced today that Penelope Lewis, PhD., will join the organization as its Chief Publishing Officer. Lewis will take on responsibility for AIP Publishing s diverse portfolio of highly respected journals, books, and other products aimed at advancing the work of the global physical science community. We look forward to having a leader with Penelope s range join our dynamic team, said Alix Vance, CEO. She has diverse strengths in partnerships, product development, market-facing strategy and services, and editorial portfolio development as well as a superb scientific background.